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PRINTER'S NO. 4554
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1050
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, JONES,
DONATUCCI, GREEN AND BERNSTINE, OCTOBER 19, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Urging the General Assembly not to accept a cost-of-living
adjustment during the next three years and when unemployment
in this Commonwealth is more than 10%.
WHEREAS, The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a
global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11,
2020; and
WHEREAS, There are now more than 3.8 million cases of COVID-
19 in the United States and over 141,000 deaths; and
WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, there are more than 100,000
confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 7,000 deaths; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the pandemic, the Commonwealth had a
$3.2 billion shortfall in revenue during the 2019-2020 fiscal
year; and
WHEREAS, In May 2020, the Independent Fiscal Office estimated
that Pennsylvania will permanently lose $5 billion in revenue
through June 2021; and
WHEREAS, The temporary closure of businesses to mitigate the
spread of COVID-19 caused the unemployment rate in Pennsylvania
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to increase from 5.8% in March 2020 to 16.1% in April 2020; and
WHEREAS, The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania in June 2020
was 13.0%; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has held session throughout the
duration of the global pandemic to address the crisis and work
to protect Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, The act of September 30, 1983 (P.L.160, No.39),
known as the Public Official Compensation Law, bases cost-of-
living adjustments for public officials in Pennsylvania to the
year-over-year change in the consumer price index published by
the United States Department of Labor; and
WHEREAS, Millions of hardworking Pennsylvanians continue to
struggle to pay their bills and afford basic needs amid the
global pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians deserve to know that their State
legislators understand the hardships they continue to face every
day; and
WHEREAS, Legislators have a responsibility to set an example
for leaders at all levels of government and in the private
sector to follow; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the General
Assembly not to accept a cost-of-living adjustment during the
next three years and when unemployment in this Commonwealth is
more than 10%; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representative pledge not to
accept a cost-of-living adjustment for the next three years; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives pledge not to
accept a cost-of-living adjustment during any year in which
unemployment in this Commonwealth is more than 10%; and be it
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further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call upon the
Senate to make the same pledge not to accept a cost-of-living
adjustment for the next three years and when unemployment in
this Commonwealth is more than 10%.
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